All countries have to promote solutions
In 1951, the United Nations drafted the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, permitting individuals to seek refuge or asylum in other nations if they have a credible fear of persecution. The reasons for this well-founded fear of persecution include a person’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or the prevailing political opinion. The leading causes that force migrants to flee their home countries are war and ethnic, tribal and religious violence.
The UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, processes migrants and works closely with U.S. government agencies and NGOs responsible for resettling refugees in this country. Also established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) works in all aspects of migration, promoting international cooperation on migration issues and providing humanitarian assistance to migrants in need.
In contrast to refugees resettled in our country through the UNHCR, IOM, U.S. agencies and one of the four San Diego resettlement agencies, asylum seekers arrive at our border or port of entry hoping for asylum based on a well-founded fear of persecution. Many asylees are victims of war, extortion, torture or other forms of violence.
With the ending of Title 42 on May 11, the Biden administration implemented a process requiring asylum seekers to request refuge in a country they passed through en route to our border or to use a smartphone app, CBP One, to make an appointment to begin the process of seeking asylum on the basis of credible fear of persecution. Many migrants do not understand how to access the app or experience technical glitches. Migrants here illegally can be deported through “expedited removal” and cannot seek asylum for five years or face criminal prosecution.
Everyone has a human right to seek asylum although our new restrictions are contrary to the principles of international refugee law. How can we prevent the horrors that asylum seekers experience as they flee their home country, seek safety and face the inhumanity of our new rules? Both the UNHCR and IOM have offices in countries throughout the world. To adopt a more humanitarian solution for those seeking asylum, more offices should be established in war-impacted and neighboring countries to begin the process of vetting asylum seekers to become refugees and eliminate the terrifying journey to the border.
The most important solution centers on the need for all countries to promote peace to prevent the horrific consequences of war, environmental devastation, and the pain from losses, injuries and PTSD. All nations desperately need to embrace this belief and ensure its implementation. The survival of our world depends on this dedication to the prevention of war and adherence to enduring peace.
Anne Hoiberg, Point Loma